Sheet-metal shelf



Now; a, 1925. 1,560,436

E. C. STAPLES "SHEET METAL SHELF Fil ed June 2, 1925 2 Shams-Shut. 1

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SIGN OR TO UNITED ALLOY STEEL GORPORA- CORPORATION OF NEW YURK.

SHEET-METAL SHELF.

Application filed June 2,. 1925. Serial No. 34,356.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. STAPLES, a citizen of the Uni d States, residing at Uanton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, havev invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Shelves, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the construction of shelves made of sheet metal, and the object of the improvement is to-reinforce the free edge of the shelf in such a manner as to'form a label holder on the face thereof.

When a flange is formed along the free edge of a shelf made of sheet metal to increase the strength thereof, the sheared edge of the flange presents a cutting edge which is dangerous to a user; and when a flanged lip is formed on the edge of such a flange, or on the edge of a strip associated there'- with to form a label' holder, the sheared edges which are likewise dangerous to a user of the shelf.

The purpose of the present improvement is accomplished by folding the edges of lip anges which may be formed on the edge of a shelf flange and on the edge of a reinforcing strip which may be secured to the same, inward upon themselves so as to present smooth edges, which notonly improves the finish of the shelf front, but eliminates sharp cutting edges therefrom, and also serves to increase the strength of the reinforcement along the free edge of the shelf.

The strength of the free edge of the shelf may be further increased by interposing an angle strip betw en the forcing strip; which angle strip may be made of a heavier gauge sheet than is required for the shelf, so as to increase the strength of its free edge to any desired de ree.

b The invention is illustrated in the accompinylilng drawings forming part hereof, in W 10 Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tier of shelves embodying the improvement, with parts broken away to show details of construction;

Fig. .2, a plan section of the tier shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a' fragmentary perspective view showing the corner of the improved shelf with a reinforcing angle strip therein;

of shelves flange and the rein-- Fig. 4, a detached improved shelf;

Fig. 5, a detached perspective View of the reinforcing angle strip which may be used therewith;

Fig. 6, a detached reinforcing strip which may be used .with the shelf flange to form a label holder thereon;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary section, showing the use of an angle strip between the shelf flange and lipped strip; and

Fig. 8, a fragmentary section showing the use of a reinforcing strip in direct abutment with the shelf flange.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the drawings.

A tier of shelves may be made of partition walls 9, back walls 10 and a series of shelves 11; and the forward edges of each partition wall may be strengthened and finished by forming a folded T-flange 9 along .the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The shelves may be formed withflanges 11' and 11" on.the end and rear edges, and

perspective view of the these flanges may be provided with suitable similar parts i perspective view of the I with a reinforcing flange 14, which may ex-- tend upward at a normal angle to the plane of the shelf, andupon its free edge a lip flange is bent downward and folded inward upon itself to .form a downward and forwardly inclined flange 14' for a label holder.

reinforcing angle strip 15 may be applied to'theflange angle when used, the one flange 15 of the an is strip extends upward on' the face-of t e shelf flange into the angle of the lip flan e thereon, and the other flange 15 of t e angle stri extends rearward in abutment with the OttOIIlr of the shelf, to which it ,may be secured, as by spot welding.

A reinforcing stri 16 may be applied directly to the forward face of the angle bar 15 when the same-is used, as shown in 'Fi 7; or directly tothe forward 'faceof the she f flange 14, as shown in Fig. 8; and in either' of the shelf, and r edges 18 which give the gether, as by'spot welding. Upon the lower ed e of the reinforcing strip 16 a lip flange is cut upward and folded inward u on 1tself to form an upward and forwar ly inclined flange 16' for a label holder.

The ends of the shelf flange may be cut away as shown in the. drawings, so as to enter the rear of the T-flanges 9' on the forward edges of the partition walls 9, and to bring the (ends of the lip flanges 14 in abutment with the edges of the T-flanges. When the reinforcing angle strip is used, the same may extend the full lengt of the shelf so as to extend in rearof' the T-flanges, and the ends of the reinforcingstrips 16 andthe flan es 16 thereon preferably abut the edges of t e T-flanges, so as to form'neat joints between the parts.

By this construction, the shelf flange may be reinforced to any desired extent, either with or without the use of a reinforcin angle strip; and a label holder 17 is forme upon the forward face of the shelf flange by means of the lipflanges, which are folded inward upon themselves to resent rounded she f a finished appearance without any sharp cutting edges. I claim:

1. A sheet metal shelf formed with a. nor-- mal flange on its free edge and'a downward "forwardly inclined lip flange on the upper edge of the normalflang'e, and a reinforcing str1 secured to the shelf flange and forme wit an upward forwardly inclined lip flange on the lower edge thereof.

2. A sheet met l shelf formed with a nor mal flange on its free edge and a downward forwardly inclined lip flange folded inward' upon itself on the-upper edge of the normal flange, and a reinforcing strip secured to the shelf flan e and formed with an upward forwardly incline-d lip flange folded inward upon itself on the lower edge thereof.

3. A sheet metal shelf formed with a normal flan e on its free ed e and a downward forward y inclined lip flange on the upper edge of the normal flange, a reinforcing stnp secured to the shelf flange and formed with an upward forwardly inclined lip flange on the lower-edge thereof, and a reinforclng angle bar secured to the flange angle of the shelf with one of its flanges interposed between the shelf flange and the reinforcing strip secured thereto.

v4. A sheet metal shelf formed with a normal flange on its free edge and a downward forwardly inclined lipflange folded inward upon itself on the upper edge of the normal flange, a reinforcing strip secured to the shelf flange and formed with an upwardly forwardly inclined lip flange folded inward upon itself on the lower edge thereof, and a reinforcing angle bar secured to the flange angle of the shelf with .one of its flanges interposed between reinforcing strip secured thereto.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.-

"EDWARD o. STAPLES.

the. shelfflanges and the 

